Best Internet Providers in Seattle, WA

Internet Services in Seattle, Washington

From Fortune 500 job opportunities and prestigious universities to activities galore, Seattle is an alluring destination with over 992,602 people who need quick internet access to keep them connected. Home to 18 internet providers, Seattle’s main internet providers include Xfinity, CenturyLink, and StarTouch Broadband. As one of Washington’s most connected internet cities, Seattle has a wide range of internet options, whether you’re looking for ultra-fast speeds up to 1 Gbps or internet plans as affordable as Seattle’s artisan coffee shops. In this guide, we’ll help you explore all the competitive internet deals Seattle has to offer and give you insights into how to choose the best one for you.

Fastest Internet Services in Seattle 

In the age of teleconferencing, distance learning, and entertainment streaming, access to high-speed internet is more a matter of survival than convenience. A spotty internet connection really pokes the bear when you’re trying to get work and academic projects done, and it makes matters even worse when endless buffering and lag keeps you from venting to your family and friends or unwinding with your favorite show. Fortunately, Seattle internet is powered by several high-speed connection types, including cable, fiber, DSL, fixed wireless, and satellite, some of which provide speeds up to 1,000 Mbps, also known as 1 Gbps. Our experts assembled the following table to give you insight into which Seattle internet providers offer the top internet speeds and how available those services are to you:

Fastest Seattle Internet Providers

Cheapest Internet Plans in Seattle

Affordability is such an important consideration for an internet plan that a growing percentage of Americans rely on their mobile phones for internet instead of paying for broadband service. Internet providers tend to increase prices over time, for reasons as mysterious as the rain in Seattle is constant, so we get it. To help you find the best internet deals in Seattle, we determined the value of internet providers by dividing the cost of their most affordable plans by their accompanying download speeds. We organized the following table to give you a sense of who offers the best internet value you can find in Seattle:

Best Internet Value of Seattle Providers

Hidden Internet Provider Fees in Seattle

Seattle residents need to be vigilant about two things: the Fremont Troll and hidden fees. The former will probably make you smile, but hidden fees are no joke and can morph into something monstrous if you aren’t careful. Between activation, installation, and equipment rentals, expect to pay about $100 more than what was advertised on your first bill. But setup and installation fees are a one-time payment, and leasing equipment will likely cost you no more than $20 each month. On the other hand, if you decide to cancel service with a provider before your contract is up, you could pay hundreds of dollars in early termination fees. We created the following table so you can prepare for the fees lurking in the fine print of Seattle internet provider service agreements:

Internet Fees in Seattle

Data Overage Fees

From streaming video to web browsing, anything you do on the internet uses data. In an ideal situation, you can engage in all the digital activities you like without thinking about your data consumption. Google Fiber in Seattle gives their customers unlimited data — a uniquely enticing perk for heavy internet users, since most providers impose data caps, limiting their customers to a monthly data allowance. For example, Xfinity in Seattle limits you to 1.2 terabytes (TB) of data and will charge you $10 for each additional 50 gigabytes (GB) of data you use, up to $100 in a month. To avoid incurring data overage fees or speed reductions known as throttling, monitor your data usage (most providers will let you track your data through your account) or upgrade to an unlimited data plan. 

Early Termination Fees

At the end of the day, internet providers want your business for the long haul. To keep you committed (usually for 12 to 24 months), many providers will charge pretty high ETFs when customers end their service agreements before their contracts expire. For example, CenturyLink in Seattle will collect up to $200 in ETFs, while Wave Broadband charges up to $250. 

If you’re starting to panic, here’s the good news: many internet providers in Seattle, such as Google Fiber and ToledoTel, offer month-to-month internet plans that give you the flexibility to end service whenever you need to without paying an ETF. The downside to these plans is that they are almost always more expensive than ETF plans, and they may not be eligible for promotional rates or rewards. 

Internet Equipment Fees

Even though you found an internet deal that fits your budget, it’s important to be aware of any equipment fees you’re responsible for before you start making plans based on the advertised price of the deal. Unfortunately, equipment is necessary to access the internet but often isn’t included in the price. Xfinity in Seattle rents out their modems for $14 per month, a cost added to the price of your internet package.

You can avoid paying an equipment fee with both of these providers by using your own equipment, but the disadvantage to that strategy is that you won’t receive technical support or equipment upgrades from your provider. Be on the lookout for providers that offer free equipment, such as CenturyLink. New, qualifying CenturyLink customers may be able to receive a free modem if they sign up for CenturyLink internet service online. 

Setup and Installation Fees

Your first bill with an internet service provider in Seattle will surprise you if you didn’t see the setup and installation fees coming. For example, Viasat charges you $99.95 for a technician to install your service, and they don’t give you the option to self-install. Some providers will waive installation fees under certain conditions. For example, CenturyLink covers the cost of your installation if you’re a new customer and sign up online for their Fiber Gigabit plan. Providers like Xfinity in Seattle allow you to self-install for just the cost of shipping and handling the equipment to your home, but you may lose the peace of mind you get from letting an expert take care of your internet setup for you. 

Internet Self-Installation in Seattle

If you’re reading this user guide, you’re probably the type of person who doesn’t mind doing a little extra work to save money. That’s why our team strives to provide you with the tools you need to make the most strategic choices you can, one of which may be installing internet service yourself. Self-installation can seem intimidating, but if you follow a few easy steps, you can have your connection up and running in a jiffy without handing your internet provider yet another stack of cash. Check out the self-installation guide our experts put together for each internet connection type. 

Seattle’s Internet Neighborhoods

An economic boom has led thousands of millennials to move to Seattle’s famously unique neighborhoods, all teeming with culturally rich establishments like Ye Olde Curiosity Shop in the Pioneer Square neighborhood or the Museum of Pop Culture in the Queen Anne neighborhood. Though all Seattle communities are charming in their own right, it’s a good idea to be aware of the internet available in each one so that you can move to an area in Seattle that aligns with your digital needs. We gathered that information for you in the table below so you know which internet providers offer service to your new home. 

Seattle Neighborhood Internet Availability